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Buckeye86
| Posted on Thursday, July 08, 2010 - 08:23 pm: |
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So a quick apology if this should have gone the the vault, but it covered several topics, and it seemed to make more sense to point it here at the time. Anyways, I've finally gotten on top of my school loans (woo!) and now that I have some free coin floating around, I want to make some upgrades to my '05 cityX, but I wanted some input from others before I did. Ideally, I'd add a K&N filter, open airbox, and either a Drummer, Spec Ops, or Jardine muffler, along with bar-ends, axle sliders and maybe a clubman... haven't decided on that one yet. In doing my HW on the pipes, I've gone through Al Lighton's exhaust shootout (incredible work btw), and I came away scratching my head somewhat. I typically ride my bike to commute, with occasional weekend outings on country roads, usually riding between 3500-5500 RPM. On paper, it seemed to me like the Jardine system would offer the best performance for what I do, given that it has a solid midrange and decent peak numbers, at the lack of a bottom end, all at an affordable price. But looking at the spreadsheet which shows the acceleration times, the Jardine is one of the slowest pipes, beat soundly by the Spec Ops and Drummer pipes, even though they both have a very pronounced "hole" in the midrange, which is where I typically find myself riding. Am I misreading this? Or is that the way the Jardine actually works? Is there some other virtue of the other two pipes that I'm missing (besides the much stronger bottom)? My second question has to do with fuel mapping. In his report, Al seemed to do quite a bit of fussing around with the ECM mapping to optimize each pipe. Is this really something that MUST be done? Or will performance/ride-ability/reliability really suffer if I don't? And if I do, what all is involved? It seems that I need to get a DirectLink key, as well as the correct cable. After that, are there some preset maps I can download? If not, do I need any other equipment to correctly map the ECM? Or will I need to find a Dyno to tune it? Or, as an alternative, will a local HD dealer do it for me/ at what cost? Again, I apologize if this post is in the wrong section, and any/all help would be welcome. Just want to make sure I spend my money in the right places. |
Reepicheep
| Posted on Thursday, July 08, 2010 - 08:50 pm: |
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Leave everything stock, maybe put on a HID, sliders, and bar end mirrors. Then spend the rest on good gear and track days (IMHO). I had one of the pipes you mention (not saying which) and a race ECM, and took both off after half a season. The 9sx is just SUCH a nicely sorted bike just as it rolls off the floor... |
Hulagun
| Posted on Thursday, July 08, 2010 - 10:37 pm: |
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Interesting thread. I just bought a XB9S with dealer race kit. It runs and sounds great. There is a softness at 4k, where I was warned there would be a hole in the torque band. At 5k the turbo kicks in (well, feels like it). If you look at Drummer dyno charts, they smooth it all out. I have been told the Drummer is a much better street pipe than the race kit pipe. Also I like the look better than the race pipe. Tempting! I might trade pipes if someone offered. Tho I agree w/ Reepicheep: if you are an average rider, spend the money on track instruction and laps before worrying about a pipe. An average rider on a loud Buell will never be as fast as an expert rider on a stock Buell. |
Bitbear
| Posted on Thursday, July 08, 2010 - 11:10 pm: |
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For me, the factory race kit on my Xb9s is perfect. The can offers some growl without requiring earplugs. It is, after all, a street fighter, not a Standard Japanese Unit "racer". I've never noticed a hole big enough that could't be instantly overcome with the ULTIMATE SOLUTION: It's called twisting the throttle just a little more. |
Slaughter
| Posted on Thursday, July 08, 2010 - 11:17 pm: |
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Get a notebook, a good track day or a stretch of twisty road with no traffic and dial in the suspension and sort the handling. All the motor in the world won't amount to a hill of beans without predictable handling. CONFIDENCE in the machine's handling and getting PREDICTABLE handling will make you faster before Horse Power can ever begin to help. Big HP numbers buy bragging rights at Starbucks... with riding skills, you can just sit, sip your coffee, nod and smile as everybody else compares numbers. |
Sloppy
| Posted on Friday, July 09, 2010 - 12:40 am: |
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Your best investment is to sign up for a track day. I HIGHLY recommend Keith Code's Cornering Schools. Ranked among the best. Any investment in your bike to go "faster" is a waste of money until you get your brain to the levels that the bike is capable of. You'll see bikes with half the horsepower out perform modern bikes simply due to the skill of the rider... |
B00stzx3
| Posted on Friday, July 09, 2010 - 12:50 am: |
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Open airbox, HIDs, breather reroute with catchcan, either Race ECM or tuning, 1125R mirrors, right side scoop oh and CRG or other adjustable levers As far as exhausts go, I wouldn't recommend Jardine based on my experience and others experience, they blow their rivets. |
Froggy
| Posted on Friday, July 09, 2010 - 12:52 am: |
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quote:Big HP numbers buy bragging rights at Starbucks... with riding skills, you can just sit, sip your coffee, nod and smile as everybody else compares numbers.
And laugh when you are able to stay on an 1125R riders ass in the twisties when you are on a purple Blast with bald tires |
Buckeye86
| Posted on Friday, July 09, 2010 - 01:19 am: |
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Wow, lots of good advice. I guess I got carried away... It started off with me wanting a better exhaust, then hoping that everything else would smooth out the power curves, and I just went crazy w. the American Sport Bike catalog > <. But you are probably right, I should deal with better sorting the suspension and just being a better rider instead of HP for the time being. Although a louder pipe would still be nice... Thanks for the good advice. |
Niceguyeddy
| Posted on Friday, July 09, 2010 - 01:23 am: |
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I'm loving the Pro Series intake, Odie's pipe and Erik Buell Racing ECM. To each their own... |
Hulagun
| Posted on Friday, July 09, 2010 - 02:04 am: |
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Ditto on Code. Can also highly recommend Pridmore CLASS, American Super Camps, and Rich Olivers Mystery School. Screw bicycles, yoga, judo or aikido... take up short track racing instead. |
Glitch
| Posted on Friday, July 09, 2010 - 05:36 am: |
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And laugh when you are able to stay on an 1125R riders ass in the twisties when you are on a purple Blast with bald tires Or when passing everyone going up Blood Mountain with a passenger on a little XB9! I do however have the Buell Race Kit since the beginning. You'd do well to listen to Slaughter, I have been ever since I needed some suspension advise, never have I regretted it. |
Buckeye86
| Posted on Friday, July 09, 2010 - 10:09 am: |
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Any advice then on where I should start with the suspension? I haven't really noticed any hiccups with it to date. At this point I have it set slightly stiffer than the mfg. recommendations, and havn't really had any need to change it. As to track days, I'll def. look into that. |
Crackhead
| Posted on Friday, July 09, 2010 - 10:12 am: |
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quote: And laugh when you are able to stay on an 1125R riders ass in the twisties when you are on a purple Blast with bald tires : )
When you pick a road that doesn't allow the big bikes to shift out of 1st, hp is not the limiting factor. |
Reepicheep
| Posted on Friday, July 09, 2010 - 12:59 pm: |
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Actually, the Erik Buell Racing ECM probably would be a good call, if they have one for "street exhaust and open airbox". |
F1fletch
| Posted on Friday, July 09, 2010 - 03:04 pm: |
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I guess I always was a modified guy from way back but I do not agree with the leave everything stock motto. For some it is great, but a good exhaust, aircleaner and correct mapping do help. As noted the drummer has the smoothest power band and Erik Buell Racing has an ecm for that pipe. To each his own, I just love the personalization of tuning and the sound of a nice exhaust...:-) |
Brightbuell
| Posted on Friday, July 09, 2010 - 04:36 pm: |
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Hell no dont leave it stock! OK Grandpa! Scared of a little thunder! I like all your ideas. I also like the clubmann bars, really give it that street fighter handling. I would stay away from Jardean. i have seen about 5 of them lose their rivits. plus modded pipes mad from the stock pipe look better and allow you to use your chin fairing. I know some of the after pipe do to but just trust me on that. Please dont leave it stock. Stock sounds like shit!! Compaired to a good moded pipe. Good luck on your choices and please post pics. |
Delta_one
| Posted on Friday, July 09, 2010 - 05:11 pm: |
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+1 on clubman bars, probably one of the best handling mods I have done to date, and the cosmetic appeal was a big bonus. good rubber and a proper suspension setup not included. (they ARE the best mods but I don't think they count because they are a given IMO everybody should be doing this) I installed the Buell Race Spring Kit it was under $100 and made the bike feel more predictable and I was able to make it VERY stiff (personal preference) |
L8_br8ker
| Posted on Monday, July 26, 2010 - 05:31 pm: |
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hehe Froggy I just read your post above, you make my day. |
Fast1075
| Posted on Monday, July 26, 2010 - 06:01 pm: |
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Don't let froggy fool yah...his "bald" tires are slicks and his Blast runs on DiLithium Crystals...but he was texting and surfing the web at the same time. |
L8_br8ker
| Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2010 - 07:14 pm: |
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After getting run over by a Tahoe, with an active cell phone operator 2 summers ago (most of me lived), I quickly loose my sense of humor when I see anyone with a cell phone on the ear driving, knowing, that person more than likely, only has about 30% of what it takes to drive anything on the road, the cell phone brings that down to outright dangerous, and entirely reckless, if they had more than 30% of what it takes in know-how to drive, they would not have a cell phone in use in the car in the first place. |
L8_br8ker
| Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2010 - 07:46 pm: |
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sorry, back to the topic, Aside from the numbers at American sportbike, which the guys worked hard to compile for us. If its sound your after, my 2 cents is the Drummer, and Spec Ops pipes sound the best to me. I have a Drummer SS, I couldn't be happier, its loud, but very deep, lottsa bass, my friend has a Spec Ops, it sounds sweet too, to me a touch louder, with much more metal in the tone, and there's a xb9 in the area with a Jardine, its probably the loudest, and sounds a bit like a Harley with open pipes, with a lot of high pitch in there, I dont like that one, but it is very loud. (loud is good). |
Sifo
| Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2010 - 08:18 pm: |
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After over 25K miles on my Jardine I would give it a cautioned recomendation (mine is on a 12 though). Runs better than stock with no complaints after a custom map. I haven't had problems with the rivets failing yet, but I thing the carbon ones may hold up better than the aluminum. I just had my chin fairing fail though. It looks like it broke because of not having the front support that the stock can provides. You also loose the ability to jack it up on the muffler. I can just undo 2 springs, one bolt and shim my jack with a small 2x4 to fit under the engine to jack it up when necessary. What I think should really be added is more miles! We all like to personalize things though so make it your own and enjoy it. |
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